Can Angel Last? Will Michael Keep Falling? Why Mia? See The Most Popular Baby Names of 2006

2006 News Releases

ADHS News Release:


Release:	Can Angel Last? Will Michael Keep Falling? Why Mia? See The Most Popular Baby Names of 2006

Release Date:	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 22, 2006

Contact:	Michael Murphy (Formerly No. 1) ADHS Public Information (602) 542-1094 Janey Pearl, ADHS Public Information (602) 364-1201

Angel tops the list of most popular boy baby names in Arizona for the second year in a row, while Mia has unseated Emily for top spot among girls.

The Arizona Department of Health Services’ list of top Arizona baby names for 2006 is compiled from birth certificates filed with the Department’s Office of Vital Records.

Michael was the most popular boy’s name in 1976, 1986 and 1996, but fell to No. 6 in the 2006 ranking.

Mia shifted places with Emily, who was No. 1 last year. Ten years ago, the most popular girl’s name was Ashley, which fell to No. 4 this year.

Mia and Angel are relative newcomers – neither name appears in the top 20 lists of most popular Arizona baby names for 1976, 1986, or 1996.

20 MOST POPULAR NAMES AMONG ARIZONA BOYS BORN IN 2006

Total resident boys born = 48,484 (January-December 2006)

Rank	Name	Frequency
1	ANGEL	581
2	DANIEL	561
3	ANTHONY	543
4	JACOB	542
5	JOSE	523
6	MICHAEL	489
7	JESUS	470
8	LUIS	443
9	JOSHUA	439
10	GABRIEL	410
11	DAVID	397
12	ANDREW	390
13	CHRISTOPHER	386
14	ALEXANDER	379
15	ETHAN	379
16	MATTHEW	376
17	JONATHAN	368
18	JOSEPH	357
19	CHRISTIAN	338
20	JUAN	328

20 MOST POPULAR NAMES AMONG ARIZONA GIRLS BORN IN 2006

Total resident girls born = 46,193 (January-December 2006)

Rank	Name	Frequency
1	MIA	457
2	EMILY	448
3	ISABELLA	393
4	EMMA	357
5	ASHLEY	356
6	MADISON	297
7	AVA	287
8	SOPHIA	284
9	SAMANTHA	269
10	ALYSSA	263
11	ABIGAIL	261
12	ALEXIS	256
13	NATALIE	252
14	HANNAH	246
15	ELIZABETH	232
16	HAILEY	224
17	BRIANNA	223
18	ALEXA	219
19	OLIVIA	209
20	VICTORIA	200

The above reflects the data collection and data entry as of 12/15/2006.

A list of 2005 and 2004 baby names is available at http://www.azdhs.gov/news/archives2005.htm.